French authorities will start stopping migrant vessels in Channel following British demands

France has agreed to begin stopping small boats in the English Channel, after an extended period of pressure from the United Kingdom.

This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader urging him to back the initiative and saying there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.

French maritime police have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to authoritative confirmation.

French authorities have infrequently intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both officers and civilians.

"It is essential that we implement these methods this period... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel."

Currently, a French maritime police representative says officers will start taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.

Significantly, the official excluded the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had previously been reported as a potential technique to snarl the engines of the boats.

The decision to intervene at all is a major step forward, following a brief change towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister departed from office.

This was demonstrated in the summer month, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.

Now French authorities will once more be permitted to stop boats prior to they pick up migrant passengers from the coastal areas of France's north coast, although it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented.

Powerful gusts are presently delaying the start of intervention operations and the human trafficking gangs will be looking for ways to adjust to evade detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances.

UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been approached for response.

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